afropunk battle of the bands brooklyn heats up

…And then there were five. Last week, AFROPUNK hosted an epic four-night run at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory during which 16 potential AFROPUNK Battle of the Bands winners was reduced to a Fab Five. The great rap choruses of Vibe World Order, the hardcore explosions of Anahata, the way Shane “Byhaze” Fuller’s soulful singer-songwriting married a groove, Fade Em All’s new wave funk-punk, and the pure energy of Black Haüs moving from bursting rhymes to soul-punk screams — these are the moments that transcended crowd favoritism. Those are the acts that will be back at the Knit, next Friday, August 9th, battling in the finals for the right to play AFROPUNK Brooklyn’s big stages at Commodore Barry Park, in August.

Crowd at the AFROPUNK Brooklyn Battle fo the Bands, Knitting Factory, July 2019

But, cliche as it might sound, there were no losers at the Brooklyn semi-finals this year. Every single act brought IT HARRRRD, as did their cheering sections of devoted supporters. If each year we are beyond gratified at the amount of talent and love that the community exhibits at Battle of the  Bands, this time around we were positively stunned. There was far more good music than there were final spots, and the vibes both on-stage and in-front were the loving raucous moshpit of family.

The vibes continues next Friday in Williamsburg. You should come. 

Vibe World Order performing at the AFROPUNK Brooklyn Battle of the Bands, at the Knitting Factory, July 2019 (photo: Dennis Manuel)

Fade Em All performing at the AFROPUNK Brooklyn Battle of the Bands, at the Knitting Factory, July 2019 (photo: Dennis Manuel)

Gitoo, the master of ceremonies at the AFROPUNK Brooklyn Battle of the Bands, at the Knitting Factory, July 2019 (photo: Dennis Manuel)

The Narcotix performing at the AFROPUNK Brooklyn Battle of the Bands, at the Knitting Factory, July 2019 (photo: Dennis Manuel)

The crowd at the AFROPUNK Brooklyn Battle of the Bands, at the Knitting Factory, July 2019 (photo: Dennis Manuel)

Anahata performing at the AFROPUNK Brooklyn Battle of the Bands, at the Knitting Factory, July 2019 (photo: Dennis Manuel)

Black Haüs performing at the AFROPUNK Brooklyn Battle of the Bands, at the Knitting Factory, July 2019 (photo: Dennis Manuel)

Byhaze, backstage at the AFROPUNK Brooklyn Battle of the Bands, at the Knitting Factory, July 2019 (photo: Dennis Manuel)